5 Days Orkney Islands & NC500 Tour from Glasgow

Scotland saves its best surprises for the long road north. This five-day trip links the Highlands, Orkney, and the North Coast 500 in one sweeping route, with ancient stone circles, ruined castles, whisky stops, coastal walks, and famous sights such as Loch Ness and Glencoe. I especially like the chance to spend two nights in Kirkwall, rather than rushing through Orkney in a single day, and the small group size of no more than 16 people, which makes a long journey more comfortable.

I also like the mix of famous sights and less polished places, from the Italian Chapel to the Grey Cairns of Camster. The main drawback is the pace: you cover a great deal of Scotland in five days, and several admission fees, meals, and optional tastings cost extra. This suits you best if you value variety and scenery over long, lazy visits.

Key points at a glance

• Orkney gets two nights: You have enough time for Kirkwall, Skara Brae, Maeshowe, and the major standing stones.
• The ferries are included: Both the outward trip to Orkney and the return to mainland Scotland are part of the tour price.
• A small-group road trip: The maximum group size is 16, with recent trips sometimes running with only five passengers.
• Five days, many miles: The route covers the Cairngorms, Inverness, the NC500, Orkney, Caithness, Dunrobin, Loch Ness, Glencoe, and Loch Lomond.
• Ancient Scotland is the star: Clava Cairns, Maeshowe, Stenness, the Ring of Brodgar, Skara Brae, and Camster give the tour real depth.
• Budget for extras: Several major attractions, including Skara Brae, Maeshowe, Dunrobin Castle, and a Loch Ness cruise, are not included.

What the tour does well

This is not a slow, single-region holiday. It is a packed road trip designed to show you a large slice of northern Scotland without asking you to arrange ferries, routes, and remote sights yourself. At $828.18 per person, the value depends on how much independent planning you would otherwise do.

The price includes both ferry crossings, guided short walks, and visits to the Standing Stones of Stenness and the Ring of Brodgar. Transport is also the practical heart of the experience. Orkney and the far north are rewarding places to visit, but public transport does not make it easy to connect all of these sites in five days.

The group limit of 16 is important. A large coach can make remote Scotland feel like a parade, while a smaller vehicle allows more conversation and easier stops. One recent departure had five passengers in a new, comfortable van, and the guide added places when the group showed interest. That kind of flexibility cannot be guaranteed, but it gives you a useful sense of the tour’s best format.

Guides called John Macrae, Jim, and Calum earned especially warm praise for their humor, care, and ability to explain Scottish culture and history. John was noted for looking after the group and sharing strong local knowledge, while Jim even produced birthday cupcakes for one passenger. Calum adjusted the route when the small group wanted extra stops. Your guide may differ, but a good guide matters greatly on a trip with this much driving.

Day one: Cairngorms, Culloden, and the old stones near Inverness

The first day begins early, at 7:30 a.m., from the taxi rank at Buchanan Bus Station in Glasgow. That early start is necessary. You travel toward the Cairngorms National Park, one of the country’s biggest protected areas, for a woodland walk of about 90 minutes.

This opening walk gives you room to stretch your legs after leaving Glasgow. It also sets the tone for the trip: you are not simply being driven between cities. You get short outdoor stops, though the walk means you should bring sturdy shoes and clothing that can handle changeable Highland weather.

Aviemore follows, with about an hour for lunch. The town is a useful break in the Cairngorms, surrounded by access to lochs, forests, mountain paths, and ski areas. Meals are not included, so use this stop to buy lunch and snacks for the road. The schedule has plenty of driving ahead, and having food with you can make the day easier.

The visit to Culloden Battlefield gives the first day its emotional weight. This is where the Jacobite uprising ended in 1746, and the site also connects to the wider conflict between Jacobite and government forces. You have around 90 minutes here. Entry to the visitor center costs extra, but you can walk the battlefield without paying.

That distinction matters. If you want displays and indoor interpretation, set aside roughly £15 for the visitor center. If you mainly want to walk the ground and think about the events that took place there, the battlefield itself is available without an admission charge.

Clava Cairns is a short but memorable stop. The prehistoric burial site is more than 4,000 years old and surrounded by standing stones. You get only about 30 minutes, so this is a quick look rather than a full archaeological visit, but the site adds a clear link between the ancient monuments of the Highlands and those you will see in Orkney.

There is also free time in Inverness for about two hours. This gives you a chance to walk around Scotland’s Highland capital, find a cafe, or simply rest before the next stop. At Dalwhinnie Distillery, you can have a whisky taste at the bar or browse the shop. The schedule allows about 30 minutes, so expect a short stop rather than a full distillery tour.

Day two: the NC500 and the crossing to Orkney

Day two takes you north from Inverness along a scenic section of the North Coast 500. The NC500 is best understood as a route rather than a single attraction. Its appeal comes from the changing views, small coastal settlements, and the feeling of reaching the far edge of the country.

At Latheronwheel Harbour, you get about 25 minutes for a coastal walk and views of cliffs and sea. This is a brief stop, but it breaks up the road journey with fresh air and open views. Bring a waterproof layer, since exposed coastal sites can feel much cooler than the road.

The Italian Chapel is one of the most unusual stops on the route. Italian prisoners of war built and decorated the chapel during the Second World War. Its importance lies in the contrast between its modest construction and the care put into its decoration. Entry is not included, so check the current admission cost when planning your extras.

The ferry crossing takes you to Orkney, and the ferry fare is included. This is one of the tour’s practical strengths. You do not have to manage a separate booking or work out how to carry a vehicle onto the islands.

A two-hour stop at Scapa Distillery offers the chance to learn about whisky making and try a dram or two. Distillery fees are not included, so this is an optional expense rather than part of the base price. If you do not drink whisky, you may prefer to use the time for the shop or simply enjoy the change from the van.

You finish the day in Kirkwall, Orkney’s capital, with time to explore its quiet streets, shops, and cafes. The tour spends the next two nights here, which is a major advantage. Orkney deserves more than a quick photograph from a ferry window.

Day three: Orkney’s 5,000-year-old heart

Day three is the strongest archaeological day of the trip. Start in Kirkwall, the old Viking town, with the chance to see St Magnus Cathedral in the center. You have about 75 minutes, enough for a look around town and the cathedral area.

The day then moves into Orkney’s ancient heartland. Maeshowe Chambered Cairn is about 5,000 years old and is visited with an expert guide. The scheduled time is 90 minutes, but admission is extra, at approximately £11. This is one of the places where paying for entry can be worthwhile because the guided interpretation helps you understand the monument rather than simply looking at a mound of grass and stone.

At the Standing Stones of Stenness, you see some of the tallest ancient stones in Scotland. The stop lasts about 45 minutes and is included. You also visit nearby foundations from prehistoric homes, an important detail because it connects ceremonial monuments with everyday life. The stones are striking, but the house remains help you picture the people who built and used this place.

The Ring of Brodgar is another included stop, also lasting around 45 minutes. It is one of the largest stone circles in Scotland. The open setting gives the site its power. You can walk around, take photographs, and consider how much labor went into placing these stones without the visit becoming a formal museum experience.

Skara Brae is the day’s headline attraction. The settlement preserves stone homes more than 5,000 years old, including beds, shelving, and household layouts. You can see how carefully the structures were made and how recognizable some domestic details remain. Admission costs approximately £13 and is not included.

Allow for the fact that this is a full day of walking and standing outdoors. The tour description specifically warns that the route is not recommended for people with mobility or walking problems. You do not need to be an experienced hiker, but you should be comfortable with short walks over uneven ground and with getting in and out of the vehicle repeatedly.

Day four: ferries, ruined castles, and the far north

The return ferry leaves from St Margaret’s Hope, and the crossing back to mainland Scotland takes about 90 minutes. Ferry travel is not just a transfer here. It gives you a pause between Orkney’s prehistoric sites and the long mainland journey ahead.

At John O’Groats, you have about 25 minutes to walk around the small settlement and photograph the well-known finger post marking Scotland’s northern mainland point. It is a quick, slightly touristy stop, but it is also a fun geographical marker. Keep expectations modest: this is about the location and the photograph, not a long village visit.

The Grey Cairns of Camster offer something more physical. These ancient burial structures can be entered by crawling on hands and knees into the center of the cairn. Good mobility is needed, and anyone uncomfortable in cramped spaces should sit this part out. The stop lasts about 45 minutes and is free, but it is not suitable for everyone.

Castle Sinclair Girnigoe adds a dramatic coastal ruin to the day. You have about 45 minutes to explore the remains of the 16th-century fortress and enjoy the sea views. Ruins can be uneven, so take care with footing and do not expect the polished paths found at a major castle museum.

Dunrobin Castle is a sharp change of mood. This fairy-tale-style building dates back to the 13th century and offers grand rooms, formal gardens, and coastal views. The visit lasts about an hour, with admission costing approximately £15. Since the stop is relatively short, you may need to choose between seeing the interior and spending time in the gardens.

You return to the Inverness area for an evening stay. The schedule gives you about two hours in the area, but accommodation details are not specified, so check exactly where you will sleep before booking adjoining plans.

Day five: Loch Ness, Glencoe, and the road south

Loch Ness opens the final day with an optional cruise. The water is famous for the Loch Ness Monster, but the real appeal is the long, dark loch and the surrounding Highland scenery. The cruise costs about £17 and is not included. With only an hour scheduled, this is a concise stop, so decide in advance if the boat trip is worth the extra cost to you.

Glencoe follows, with about 45 minutes to see one of Scotland’s most dramatic valleys. The visit is short, but the setting makes a strong impression even from a limited number of viewpoints. Your guide’s commentary can add important context about the area’s history and culture, something that several guides on this tour have been praised for doing well.

The route continues through Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park. You have about an hour to enjoy the views and hear about wildlife, local culture, and the area’s past. The final four hours are spent traveling through the Scottish Highlands, with scenic stops along the way before the tour ends in Edinburgh at The Jolly Botanist on Morrison Street.

That Glasgow-to-Edinburgh finish is useful if you are continuing your Scotland trip in the capital. It also means this is not a round trip back to Glasgow. Plan your onward arrangements around the stated Edinburgh end point.

What the $828 price really covers

At $828.18 per person, this is a significant purchase, but the value is easier to see when you count the transport involved. You receive the two ferry crossings, guided short walks, small-group transport, and a route that would take careful planning to reproduce independently.

You should still budget for meals, snacks, and optional admissions. The listed approximate costs include:

• Culloden visitor center: about £15
• Dunrobin Castle: about £15
• Maeshowe: about £11
• Skara Brae: about £13
• Loch Ness cruise: about £17
• Glenmorangie Distillery: about £22, if included in your particular routing
• Balmoral Castle: about £16, though it is not part of the detailed five-day schedule

The clearest value comes if you plan to visit several paid sites. If you skip every optional entry, you will still receive the transport and included stops, but some of the tour’s strongest historical experiences will remain outside your day.

Who should book this road trip?

I would recommend it to you if you have limited time in Scotland and want a broad introduction rather than a relaxed base in one town. It works especially well for people interested in prehistoric sites, whisky, castles, coastal views, and Highland history.

The tour also suits solo visitors and couples who like meeting a small group on the road. The positive guide experiences suggest that the human side of the trip can be a real strength. John Macrae, Jim, and Calum were each praised for warmth, humor, care, and flexible commentary.

I would be more cautious if you dislike early starts, long drives, short visits, or extra charges. You will spend many hours in the vehicle, and the schedule leaves little room to linger when a place captures your interest. The route also includes repeated walking stops and one tight cairn entrance, so it is not a good choice if you have serious mobility limits or fear confined spaces.

Cancellation is generous if you act early: a full refund is available when you cancel at least six full days before departure. Cancellations two to six full days ahead receive 50 percent, while cancellations less than two full days before the start are not refunded. The tour also requires a minimum number of participants, and if that is not met, you are offered another date or experience, or a full refund.

Final verdict: a strong choice for a packed first visit

Book this tour if you want Scotland’s big northern story in one carefully connected journey: Highland forests, Culloden, Orkney’s stone circles, Skara Brae, remote coastlines, ruined castles, Loch Ness, Glencoe, and Loch Lomond.

Skip it if your ideal holiday means lingering over lunch, taking long walks, or exploring one island at a slow pace. For the right person, the best moments will be the ancient stones, the ferry crossings, the far-north views, and the guide who turns a long drive into a moving history lesson.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

The tour starts at 7:30 a.m. at the Buchanan Bus Station taxi rank on Killermont Street in Glasgow.

Where does the tour end?

The tour ends at The Jolly Botanist, 256 to 260 Morrison Street, Edinburgh.

Are the Orkney ferry crossings included?

Yes. The ferry to the Orkney Islands and the ferry back to mainland Scotland are included.

Are meals included?

No. Meals and snacks are not included, so you need to budget for food during the five days.

Are entry fees to the major attractions included?

Some are not included. Extra fees apply to attractions such as the Culloden visitor center, Maeshowe, Skara Brae, Dunrobin Castle, and a Loch Ness cruise. The Standing Stones of Stenness and Ring of Brodgar are included.

How large is the group?

The tour has a maximum of 16 participants. It is not recommended for people with mobility or walking problems, and most participants need to be comfortable with short walks and repeated stops.